To skip or not? 5 ways to manage your period during your wedding

Your big day's upon you and you realise you might have an unexpected wedding crasher - Aunt Flo. And of course, the period cramps that come with, plus blood stains and white dresses... the horror. Here are some tips to help you deal with it, and the options to consider.

If you can predict your monthly menstruation cycle, the better you can prep for it. There's nothing more frustrating to be in a flurry of wedding planning, only to have your period sneak up on you when you're least expecting it.

Skip it

Of course, you can always go for the option of skipping it or rather, rescheduling it with the help of prescribed birth control pills. But bear in mind that you'll have to take active pills every day (you'll have to know when your period is coming) and to check with your doctor, especially if you are pregnant, have an underlying medical condition or health issues.

For those of you who breeze through Aunt Flo's visit without bloatedness or cramps, well, lucky you. And for the rest of us... well, if you could choose curled up in a fetal position or happily exchanging your vows before the altar while enjoying wedding bliss? I'd take the latter, thanks.

Pick foods rich in potassium, protein and healthy fats. These include bananas, tomatoes, asparagus, nuts and salmon, which reduce prostaglandins, the group of hormones that cause bloating and muscle contraction. (See: Beat the wedding day bloat with these 10 foods)

Skip the salt (too much sodium leads to water retention) and gas-causing foods like broccoli, beans, lettuce and cabbage

Go for a light work out - getting your heart rate up helps alleviate PMS symptoms.

If you haven't already heard of it, an alternative to your traditional tampons and pads is the menstrual cup (like Freedom Cups or the DivaCup). This is usually made of flexible medical grade silicone and shaped like a bell to hold period flow. It can beremoved, rinsed and reinserted.

There's also a new product called a menstrual disc that can be worn up to 12 hours - just about long enough before the dinner reception when you can do a quick clean-up in your bridal suite. Not only does it claim you won't feel a thing, it promises period-free sex too - so you can get on with your steamy wedding night activities.

Test these in advance so you know exactly how to insert them, and prevent any unwanted leaks.

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